Improvement in producing castings direct from the blast-furnace



Furnace.

No. 108,375. Paftented O0t.-18, 1870.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN \V. MIDDLETON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN PRODUCING CASTINGS DIRECT FROM THE BLAST-FURNACE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 108,375, dated October18, 1870; antedated October S, 1870.

I JOHN W. MIDDLETON, of the city of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in the Mode ofProducing First-Glass Oastin gs Direct from the Ore-ReducingBlast-Furnace and in the Apparatus therefor, of which the following is aspecification:

Nature and Object of the Invention.

The first part of my invention relates to the running of the iron andscoria ot'ore-reducing furnaces directly into deep narrow receivers ormolds made either in vertical or inclined positions below the level ofthe hearth, the object of this part of my invention being to moreeffectually separate the scoria and iron by gravitation.

The second part of my invention relates to the employment of lengthy ordeep vessels, suspended in an adjustable manner from suit able cranes,for receiving the fluid products of the ore-reducing blast-furnace, andcapable of being readily brought into the vertical positions mostfavorable for the separation of the scoria and slag from theiron, andthe condensation of the latter by its superior gravitation in thelowerpart of the swin ging vessels in such a manner that the lightscoria or slag, with whatever impure iron may remain with it, willoverflow from one vessel into another, if desired, or may be drawn offat any suitable elevated part of the vessel or vessels and the purecondensed iron be run from the lower end of the vessel directly into theflask, the object of this part of my invention being to run into theflask a stream of melted iron entirely free from scoria or slag, andthus produce firstclass castings of iron direct from the ore-reducingfurnace.

The third part of my invention relates to the gate or stop, whereby theflow of melted iron under a high or heavy head can be readily GeneralDescription.

The length and diameter of the vessel, Fig. 1, are intended to be madeto suit the particular requirements it is to serve. As a generalstatement, it may be made from two to twelve feet long and from one totwo feet diameter, more or less, of iron, lined with fire-brick or clay,and its tappin g-tubes a to also lined with clay and fitted withscrew-caps or other means for retaining a clay stop.

The vessel Fig. 2 is like that of Fig. 1, except that it is shorter.

In Fig. 2 the stop or gate Z) is simply a slide which covers and opensthe outlet. A more perfect gate for retaining the stop-clay and forallowing the iron to flow when required is shown in Fig. 4 and at e inFig. 2. It consists of a wedge-faced slide, cl, and a flat slide, 6,fitted in respective grooves in the projecting sides of a plate, 0,which is fixed to the vessel, so that the outlet opens through it andcan be effectually closed by the wedge-gate d, which will press thesoft-clay stop firmly into it; and the flat slide e is used to regulatethe size of the stream of iron when the gate (1 is withdrawn and theopening is made for the outflow of the iron.

In using my improved mode and apparatus, say, for cast-iron, I run themelted iron direct from the ore-reducin g furnace into the upper end ofthe vessel, Fig. 1, the vessel being either vertical or inclined andsuspended either in an oven heated by a special fire or by a 110tblast,or without regard to being heated, the suspension being from a suitableswinging crane, by means of what are called Chinese chains, orotherwise, so that the said vessel can be either raised into a verticalposition or inclined and brought to the flask, and its outlet adjustedto run the metal into the flask.

As the metal runs into the vessel its fall produces great agitationtherein and aids the rising or separating of the scoria and the slag,which, with whatever of impure iron may adhere, will overflow into thesecondary tube, if desired, or it may be drawn off through the upperoutlet, a, and run into molds for architectural purposes.

It will now be understood, without further description, that thisprocess or mode and the apparatus therefor will do away with thenecessity of remelting the iron to make first-class castings, becausethe iron in the lower end of the vessel, Fig. 1, will be pure, orentirely free from scoria and slag--a condition which is not alwaysattainable even after a remelting of the iron in a cupola and pouringfrom a ladle, as the seoria which rises in the ladle is kept back with adifficulty which often lets pass into the flask portions of the scoria,and thus injures or spoils the casting.

I do not desire to claim the principle of gravitation as now used forseparating iron and slag at blast-furnaces; but

I claim as my invention 1. Running the iron and scoria of ore-reducingfurnaces directly into deep narrow receivers or molds, made either invertical or inclined positions, below the level of the hearth,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

upper tube, a, into any suitable mold, substantially as hereinbefore setforth and described. 3. The stopping and regulating device, Fig. 4,consisting of the plate 0, wcdging-stop d, and regulating-slide e, incombination with any of the outlets of the vessel, substantially as andfor the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

JOHN 'w. MIDDLETON.

\Vitnesses:

BENJ. MomsoN, W. H. MORISON.

